addiction treatmenthttp://www.soberforever.net/addictionblog
Wed, 30 Nov 2016 20:28:48 +0000en-UShourly1https://wordpress.org/?v=4.6.1Holistic addiction treatmenthttp://www.soberforever.net/addictionblog/index.php/holistic-addiction-treatment/
http://www.soberforever.net/addictionblog/index.php/holistic-addiction-treatment/#respondTue, 11 Jun 2013 00:42:50 +0000http://www.soberforever.net/addictionblog/?p=259For many individuals who struggle with drug and alcohol use problems, deciding to get sober and then choosing the best program to help them is a challenge. Holistic Addiction Treatments have surfaced over the years, but are they effective? If

]]>For many individuals who struggle with drug and alcohol use problems, deciding to get sober and then choosing the best program to help them is a challenge. Holistic Addiction Treatments have surfaced over the years, but are they effective?

If you are looking for holistic addiction treatment, you want a nonmedical approach that will help you through a mind, body and spirit approach, in an environment that will promote a sense of peace and serenity. A holistic approach will not emphasize a medical treatment for your symptoms, but will address your concerns from the inside out. While some approaches to holistic addiction treatment use 12 step programs that promote belief in a higher power and lifelong treatment, or yoga, meditation therapy, vitamin therapy and acupuncture; there is one choice that will stand out from the rest.

St. Jude Retreats offers a holistic approach to drug and alcohol use through our educational program that is taught from the tranquil environment of three relaxing locations at St. Jude Twin Rivers Retreat, St. Jude Mountain Retreat and St. Jude Executive Retreat. Guests will discover the peaceful surroundings in fresh open air to help give clarity and calmness.

Physical activity is essential to a holistic approach for healing the body and guests staying at any of the St. Jude Retreats will be able to journey on long walks in beautiful natural landscapes, take a bicycle ride and will have access to work out in a health facility. Guests staying at our Executive Retreat will enjoy on-site massage therapy, sauna, Jacuzzi and pool.

Nutrition is vital to rebuilding the body and the mind. Our professional chefs will prepare delicious meals specifically designed to provide optimum nourishment for our guests. A fresh salad bar and healthy snacks and beverages are available around the clock to ensure health and well being.

To renew the mind, the St. Jude Program features our cognitive behavioral education program which teaches that drug and alcohol use is not a disease but a choice that you make. You are in control of your choices. There is no need for lifelong counseling and treatment; all that is needed to escape the chains of substance use is to make a commitment to change and then follow through on that commitment..

Through our cognitive behavioral education program, you will learn to self evaluate your habits and behaviors and to develop new, more productive and enriching habits and behaviors that will lead to a life that is permanently free from drug and alcohol use. There is no cause for your substance use that is out of your control, and you are not diseased; you have just made a series of choices and developed habitual thought and behavior patterns. The St. Jude Program will help you to develop the self confidence and strength you need to overcome your substance use problems.

St. Jude Retreats is a non-treatment approach that offers a holistic approach, using cognitive behavioral education to help our guests like you to understand that they have the power to change. We have helped thousands of individuals for more than twenty years and we can help you too.

]]>http://www.soberforever.net/addictionblog/index.php/holistic-addiction-treatment/feed/0Is addiction unproven by science?http://www.soberforever.net/addictionblog/index.php/is-addiction-unproven-by-science/
http://www.soberforever.net/addictionblog/index.php/is-addiction-unproven-by-science/#respondMon, 03 Jun 2013 20:37:24 +0000http://soberforever.net/addictionblog/?p=232Alcohol and drug use are learned behaviors. While there are numerous treatment programs that advocate that people who use alcohol and drugs excessively cross a line wherein they develop an incurable disease called addiction, there is no actual science showing

]]>Alcohol and drug use are learned behaviors. While there are numerous treatment programs that advocate that people who use alcohol and drugs excessively cross a line wherein they develop an incurable disease called addiction, there is no actual science showing that such a disease exists. People use drugs and alcohol because they want to use them and until they want to stop, they will not stop.

Traditional treatment programs such as 12 step programs, tell their members that it is not their fault that they use alcohol and drugs because they were born that way: it is in their genes. 12 step programs and other rehab treatments, promote that the individual cannot control the fact that they use drugs and alcohol because they have a brain disease called addiction for which there is no cure. They require their members to attend group meetings, therapy and counseling and insist that the only effective treatment is belief in a higher power, abstinence and lifelong therapy. 12 step programs use labels, manipulation and judgment as methods of control over their members, but are their practices backed by science? Is addiction really a disease, oris addiction unproven by science?

Traditional treatment programs promote that for addicts, alcohol and drug use is impossible to stop, but that is not true. You don’t use drugs and alcohol because you inherited a gene from your parents; you use drugs and alcohol because you made the decision to use them. Drugs and alcohol give you an elated sense of euphoria and so you associate those feelings with drug and alcohol use and with frequent use, it can become a habit. Although excessive substance use may result in changes in the brain, recent advances in neuroscience have shown that the brain can fix itself, and learn to associate other habits and behaviors with pleasure.

Addiction, or habitual behavior, is developed by a repetitive choice to use and further supported by thoughts and behaviors. Making the decision to stop using drugs and alcohol, followed by building more productive habits and behaviors can and does break the cycle of addiction. This is exactly what The St. Jude Program helps people to do in their own lives.

St. Jude Retreats offers a non-treatment approach to overcome drug and alcohol problems.. We are not a 12 step program and we do not use replacement drugs for substance use. St. Jude’s does not label people or judge them. We do not use the word addiction to identify the problem, because in our culture it is synonymous with being powerless and diseased. The truth is you have the power to stop using drugs and alcohol any time you want. You are not a victim and you are not helpless.

We teach people, many of whom have lost all hope, how they can gain confidence and take control of their life. We help people to take responsibility and to be accountable for their choices so they can implement positive change. The St. Jude Program is backed by decades of research. For more than 20 years we have been helping individuals overcome their alcohol and drug use.

]]>http://www.soberforever.net/addictionblog/index.php/is-addiction-unproven-by-science/feed/0Media Is Making You fearful Of Hurricane Sandy and Addictions!http://www.soberforever.net/addictionblog/index.php/media-is-making-you-fearful-of-hurricane-sandy-and-addictions/
http://www.soberforever.net/addictionblog/index.php/media-is-making-you-fearful-of-hurricane-sandy-and-addictions/#respondTue, 30 Oct 2012 07:41:08 +0000http://soberforever.net/addictionblog/?p=133With the anticipation of the “biggest storm of the century” battling down on the east coast, there are commonly two ways people react. Many alcoholism experts as well as many former members of Alcoholic Anonymous express concern that the organization

]]>With the anticipation of the “biggest storm of the century” battling down on the east coast, there are commonly two ways people react. Many alcoholism experts as well as many former members of Alcoholic Anonymous express concern that the organization is either a cult or cult-like, that it indoctrinates members, obtaining unnecessary fear and panic and then those who are of course skeptics, who believe that the media has overplayed the storm. The same thing is brought to mind with our current “addiction crisis.”

Now while Sandy is currently leaving her battle scars on the east coast, the weather channel and media have those believers scared and panicked. As forewarned east coasters heard more and more bad news, they flocked to local grocery stores to stock up on water, batteries and canned food. Pretty much, anything and everything the news channel has advised to pick up, most of us east coasters ran and purchased.

While the news is trying to be preventative, there has been some bluffing in the past, or over-hyping previous storms. Sandy was a monster, but didn’t reach the impact expected by the weather channel. The point is that our society believes anything the media says, it instills fear in us and can persuade us to think in certain ways. So what’s to say that the media isn’t blowing America’s “addiction problems” into something it’s not?

We commonly don’t hear people say someone is being over dramatic about their alcohol use, because they believe they have a real disease. After all, our culture, especially the media, runs tv special after special about addictions and how they are a permanent part of life. Our culture has blown the “disease of addiction” into an epidemic, but realistically, more people overcome alcohol and drugs by quitting themselves, over those who go into rehab or treatment. The reason why so many people struggle with stopping is because the media, therapists or programs in the past have told them they can’t stop! In an “alcoholic’s” mind, what if their disease is simply fear that others have projected on them?

Fear of the unknown, fear of dying, fear of being hurt. Essentially fear can make us think and act completely uncharacteristically. Every time we hear drug addiction stories from national news to celebrity gossip magazines it raises an alarm in those that are currently using and for their loved ones. Parents shield their teens from the next “drug epidemic” and people live in fear of being addicted to everything!

In the end maybe those skeptics who don’t panic over everything are the ones with the most common sense, who can think the most clearly, when things seem to be spiraling out of control. When it comes to common sense those who understand they have gained power over alcohol and drugs find it revolutionary and those who realize they don’t have a disease of addiction are most successful at abstaining from their habit.

That’s why at Saint Jude’s we don’t blow addiction into something it’s not, we know you aren’t sick, which is why you are educated in our program about what addiction truly is and ways you can overcome alcohol and drug use. You are never treated at St Jude’s. Call our program at 1-888-424-2626 for more information!

**This article has no intention of downplaying Sandy’s wrath, and our thoughts are with all those on the east coast (including ourselves) that have been impacted by the storm but this article is rather to point out how the media creates unnecessary, hype, and fear about, well frankly, everything.

]]>http://www.soberforever.net/addictionblog/index.php/media-is-making-you-fearful-of-hurricane-sandy-and-addictions/feed/0Are there really underlying causes for addiction?http://www.soberforever.net/addictionblog/index.php/are-there-really-underlying-causes-for-addiction/
http://www.soberforever.net/addictionblog/index.php/are-there-really-underlying-causes-for-addiction/#commentsFri, 31 Aug 2012 07:50:03 +0000http://soberforever.net/addictionblog/?p=139While there are no actual underlying causes for substance use, individuals with a drug or problem may have reasons to justify their use. When someone claims there are “causes” it makes it sound as if that person has no control

]]>While there are no actual underlying causes for substance use, individuals with a drug or problem may have reasons to justify their use. When someone claims there are “causes” it makes it sound as if that person has no control and that just is not the case. Substance users always have control, no one forces the alcohol or drugs into their bodies, those are choices those individuals decide to make.

Many people who feel they have an alcohol “addiction” blame it on their current situation, whether it involves relationships, a job, financial stress or just life in general. But these factors really do not contribute or cause substance use. All people experience stressful situations and go through hard times. If they are taught that drinking or drugging are good ways to deal with the natural struggles and challenges of life, then that is what they will use to cope. It is simple really; it is all based on a person’s own beliefs. If they believe drugs and alcohol are good coping tools they will use them as such. If they do not, they won’t use them.

The fundamental reason why people in our society use substances is because they like to use them and gain some form of happiness or pleasure from it. Now, someone might also use substances as a learned coping mechanism if they believe it will help them during difficult times, but nonetheless, doesn’t it come right down to liking the feeling of being drunk and/or high? Just because a person has stress and/or trauma in their life does not mean they must get drunk and high.

All people experience stress and trauma, and the majority do not drink or drug at all. So getting drunk or high when things are difficult does not have to be the way these issues are handled. That choice is up to that person, and they can change that pattern and the course of their life. That is where St. Jude’s will help you.

The most important thing a person struggling with substance use problems can do is separate substance use from life issues, so that each can be addressed with their own specific solutions. By breaking the connection between substance use habits and other life issues, a person dealing with these problems is able to solve each with amazing efficiency. Substance use problems can be a thing of the past, and changing your belief system about substance use can be the key to making it a reality.

]]>http://www.soberforever.net/addictionblog/index.php/are-there-really-underlying-causes-for-addiction/feed/14Saint Jude Retreats Helps People With Substance Use Problemshttp://www.soberforever.net/addictionblog/index.php/saint-jude-retreats-helps-people-with-substance-use-problems/
http://www.soberforever.net/addictionblog/index.php/saint-jude-retreats-helps-people-with-substance-use-problems/#respondFri, 10 Feb 2012 07:09:12 +0000http://soberforever.net/addictionblog/?p=110Oftentimes, people think of drug problems as use of illegal substances, such as marijuana, cocaine and methamphetamines. They do not think about prescription drugs. Problems with drugs and alcohol can take on many different forms. They may be a mix

]]>Oftentimes, people think of drug problems as use of illegal substances, such as marijuana, cocaine and methamphetamines. They do not think about prescription drugs. Problems with drugs and alcohol can take on many different forms. They may be a mix of drugs, such as crystal meth and Xanax, or overuse of alcohol. At Saint Jude Retreats, we can help people experiencing problems with drug or alcohol use if they want to change and want help. We have a number of different programs now available, including residential retreats, at-home classes and a pilot program for day classes in New York City.

When people use drugs and alcohol beyond moderation, they may develop health problems. As a result, if they choose to stop drinking or using certain substances, they may have physical withdrawal issues. In some cases, estimated at less than 3 percent of the population, the body’s physical reaction to withdrawal may be so severe that the person needs medical attention to perform a detoxification process. At Saint Jude Retreats, we are a non-medical substance use education facility, so we do not offer any detox services. There are some places throughout the country that we refer to should someone need the medical attention required.

Something else we do not do at Saint Jude Retreats is force people to enter our program. While this is a common practice at some drug or alcohol addiction treatment facilities, we wait until the person experiencing problems with drugs, alcohol or both is ready to make a lifestyle change. Whether the person has problematic use of alcohol, illegal or prescription drugs, contact Saint Jude Retreats today. We can help.

]]>http://www.soberforever.net/addictionblog/index.php/saint-jude-retreats-helps-people-with-substance-use-problems/feed/0Addiction Treatment Is Not Confidential; Saint Jude Retreats Ishttp://www.soberforever.net/addictionblog/index.php/addiction-treatment-is-not-confidential-saint-jude-retreats-is/
http://www.soberforever.net/addictionblog/index.php/addiction-treatment-is-not-confidential-saint-jude-retreats-is/#respondFri, 06 Jan 2012 06:55:59 +0000http://soberforever.net/addictionblog/?p=98At Saint Jude Retreats, we believe in true confidentiality. If you don’t want people to know you or a loved one has been spending time with us through our retreat facility, don’t tell them. We won’t. There are many facilities

]]>At Saint Jude Retreats, we believe in true confidentiality. If you don’t want people to know you or a loved one has been spending time with us through our retreat facility, don’t tell them. We won’t.

There are many facilities that provide addiction treatment services for drugs and alcohol. They may claim confidentiality, but they are not truly confidential. When they operate under the assumption or belief that problems with drugs and alcohol are psychological or an illness, they are considered a medical treatment facility and are required by US law to keep records. Those that provide therapy to treat addictions are also required to keep records. Government agencies have access to the records, particularly financial ones when there is billing or funding involving federal, state or local programs. When health insurance is used to cover the treatment of any medical condition – including addiction treatment or alcohol rehab – these records are then accessible by insurance agencies, underwriters and third-party payers.

Saint Jude Retreats does not believe in the theory that problems with alcohol and drugs are the results of addiction, psychological disorders, medical conditions or illnesses. We believe that behavior is the problem, not the alcohol or substance itself. This is not a medical condition improved through treatment or therapy, so government programs and most health insurance won’t cover what we do. While this may be a financial disservice to those who need assistance, it does ensure confidentiality. We do have payment plans, and we can work with you without dispersing your information to other people. Contact us to find out how.

]]>http://www.soberforever.net/addictionblog/index.php/addiction-treatment-is-not-confidential-saint-jude-retreats-is/feed/0The Neuroplasticity Debate: Addiction Treatment Vs. Making Choiceshttp://www.soberforever.net/addictionblog/index.php/the-neuroplasticity-debate-addiction-treatment-vs-making-choices/
http://www.soberforever.net/addictionblog/index.php/the-neuroplasticity-debate-addiction-treatment-vs-making-choices/#respondMon, 10 Oct 2011 06:25:29 +0000http://soberforever.net/addictionblog/?p=69Neuroplasticity is the brain tissue’s ability to grow, change and adapt. The brain has the ability to record thought patterns and repetition of movements. Some people believe this creates cravings and interest in drugs and alcohol for those who have

]]>Neuroplasticity is the brain tissue’s ability to grow, change and adapt. The brain has the ability to record thought patterns and repetition of movements. Some people believe this creates cravings and interest in drugs and alcohol for those who have used these substances before. When it comes to drug and alcohol use, there are some programs that believe neuroplasticity steers an individual into an unbroken pattern which cannot be altered or changed. They dub the behavior an addiction or an illness, and refer to themselves as drug rehabilitation centers or alcohol addiction treatment facilities. These programs believe that new neuroplastic paths cannot be created and used in lieu of the old ones.

However, at Saint Jude Retreats, we disagree based on the facts. We have viewed reliable scientific studies that prove when a person’s thoughts consciously take a different path and break the cycle, the brain is capable of making different neuronal paths. The more frequently these thought paths are followed, the easier it becomes for an individual to follow them because the brain tissue adapts to those repetitious thought patterns. It is possible to change behavior through neuroplasticity, turning away from the decisions and thought paths that entice people to use drugs and alcohol in a problematic way and creating new ones that lead behavior to another self created path.

While addiction is readily accepted by society, it has not been fully explained by those in drug and alcohol treatment centers how behaviors can be relearned through Neuroplasticity. At Saint Jude Retreats, we know that each of us think and make decisions – sometimes counterproductive ones – but decisions nonetheless. It is for this reason that the brain can learn new behaviors based on our thoughts and choices and thusly, each person has the ability to change.